St Jago, Innswood clash in semis

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Defending champions Innswood will have it all to play for today and tomorrow, when they host St Jago High at Chedwin Park in one of four final-round semi-final matches in the urban area ISSA/Grace Shield cricket competition.

The Kirk Gordon-conditioned Innswood, who last season broke Eltham High's five-year stranglehold on the title, have seven points, one point less than St Jago, which means that in order for Innswood to qualify for the final, they will need to claim at least first innings points in the scheduled two-inning contest.

Three points are awarded for first innings honours, two for the losing team in a draw, two each for a no-result draw and five for an outright win.

"Psychologically, I think we have the edge playing at home and, if the weather holds true, I am confident given the players we have we will pull though," said Gordon.

Expected to lead the way for the Old Harbour Road-based Innswood are the national Under-19 batting duo of captain Oraine Simpson and Peat Salmon, and leg-spinner Jermaine Bennett.

Williams has scored three centuries, Salmon has been fairly consistent with both bat and ball, while Bennett is the team's leading wicket-taker, with 29 wickets.

no fear

St Jago, in the meanwhile, whose last trip to the final was in 2001 when they defeated Kingston College for the crown, will look to captain Richard Miller, who scored 141 against St George's College in the first round of the semi-finals, and fellow batsmen Rohan Burrell and Hodane Bryce, to lead their charge.

"We have no fear of them," remarked long-time St Jago coach, Winston 'Joe' Spencer.

"We played in the preliminaries and made 160-odd all out, and eventually they got it. But we should have made more runs and, overall, done better, as while they got the runs they lost six wickets. We can beat them," he surmised.

In the other Group One semi-final match, third-place Wolmer's, who are on five points and have an outside chance of advancing, will host First Global 'A' League champions, St George's College, who are yet to register a point in the semi-finals.

Group Two, meanwhile, is a straight tussle between Spanish Town and Norman Manley, with the former having 10 points compared to the latter's seven.

Spanish Town will host third-place Calabar High (five), who are out of contention, at the Dela Vega Sports Complex. Norman Manley will entertain First Global 'A' League runners-up Mona, who have lost their two matches to date.

Match time for all games is 10 a.m.